It might look like something straight from a science-fiction movie as British Airways unveil its new sleep pods in the “Forty Winks” lounge at Heathrow Airport, designed for travellers in need of a power nap before or between flights.
The sleep pods have been launched in partnership with innovative sleep technology company “Restworks”. The First lounge is currently open to all Club World guests on a free, self-service basis. Customers do not need to pre-book the pods but can check availability in real time by dowloading and using the Restworks mobile app. Through the app, customers can easily set the timer on the sleep pods according to their desired sleep time or use the one-touch start button for a pre-programmed 20-minute nap. The pods also have a built in elevate and recline feature to add that extra level of relaxation. Guests can also download a choice of audio content to listen to whilst in the pod and even pre-order food and drinks from the mobile app using the “Your Menu” option to be delivered directly to customers using the lounge.
The airline continues to operate in line with covid safety measures by ensuring hand sanitiser stations and antibacterial wipes are available in the lounges to keep the pods as hygienic as possible between uses.
The Forty Winks lounge has been created following customer demand and as part of BA’s initiative to step up its passenger experience and to create the most luxurious lounge of the future.
Tom Stevens, director of brand and customer experience at BA, said: “In late 2019 we carried out a survey of over 100,000 lounge guests asking what they would like to see featured in our lounges. Sleep pods were right at the top of their list”.
The airline has further plans to add the sleep pods to its Concorde Room at Heathrow Terminal 5 which is currently only accessible to first-class ticket holders and to New York’s JFK Terminal 7 when global travel restrictions ease.
Stevens added, “Our ’Forty Winks’ nap lounges will offer a dedicated rejuvenation space for customers as they return to the skies We can’t wait to welcome our customers back after a very difficult year, and we’re always looking for new ideas to support our customers’ health and wellbeing pre-flight.”
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